WEST Yorkshire Fire Authority's chairman is set for a rise of more than 70% under new pay plans.

Chairman Clr Harry Fox could see his special responsibility allowance go up from £9,320 to £16,000 a year.

The payment is in addition to the £11,100 he picks up as a Labour member of Kirklees Council.

The increase is part of a package of pay rises in allowances for members of the authority.

Fire authority members are due to meet to decide whether to vote themselves the rises.

An independent panel said they deserved more because of the time they were having to spend on modernisation plans.

Firefighters' leaders fear thousands of jobs could be axed across the UK in the changes.

The new pay scale was recommended by a team of experts led by Dr Declan Hall of the School of Public Policy at Birmingham University.

A fire authority spokesman said it was the first review for many years.

He added: "The panel reviewed all roles and posts afresh and, in particular, it took into account the fire service modernisation workload and the considerable impact in terms of time and commitment that this is having and will continue to have on the authority's members."

The panel suggests that general daily meeting attendance allowances should be scrapped and replaced with a new basic allowance for all members of £2,930.

Other key suggestions include the vice-chairman getting £8,000 on top of the basic allowance.

It is also being proposed that the principal opposition group leader should get £2,400 in addition to his allowance and the minority opposition group leader £800.

Clr Harry Fox said: "The panel has produced an exhaustive 40-page report, which recognises members' responsibilities are not simply limited to formal business meetings but include a huge and increasing amount of work behind the scenes.

"Valuable comparisons have been made not only with practice in other large metropolitan fire authorities but within local district councils.

"Overall, the panel makes a pretty impressive argument."

Members of the fire authority are councillors appointed by West Yorkshire's five district councils.

Clr Fox said: "I have asked Dr Hall to attend a full meeting of the fire Authority on December 19 to submit his proposals in person and to answer questions.